Ross Environmental Services, Inc.

Regulatory Compliance
SH & E Policy
Regulatory Programs
ISO14001

Ross Environmental Services has long recognized and addressed the need for strong safety and compliance programs. This emphasis on safety and compliance extends beyond Ross Environmental to all of the suppliers that the company uses to store, treat and dispose of its customers' waste streams.

Ross Environmental conducts safety and compliance audits of each of the suppliers in its technology network to ensure that they are meeting appropriate regulatory standards. In addition, Ross Environmental provides oversight to the safety, health and environmental programs implemented at Ross Incineration Services, Inc. (RIS)and Ross Transportation Services, Inc. (RTS).

Ross Incineration is regulated under several different programs that govern health and safety. The company complies with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The United States and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies conduct regular inspections of the RIS facility to be certain the company is operating in compliance with its permits and regulatory requirements.

The Ohio EPA has an on-site inspector who maintains an office at the facility and who has authority to be at the site at any time.

RIS also participates in OSHA's Cooperative Compliance Program (CCP). As a part of OSHA's CCP, the State of Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, Division of Onsite Consultation conducts an annual comprehensive safety and health inspection of the facility. Recently, RIS was recertified under OSHA's Safety, Health and Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). (Click here to see a copy of the certification.)

The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Acceptance into SHARP by OSHA is an achievement of status that singles a company out as a model for worksite safety and health.

Ross Transportation complies with DOT, EPA and OSHA regulations governing safe transport of waste materials. The company has received the highest Federal Highway Administration safety rating and is fully insured, with excess liability limits, for the protection of customers. Ross Transportation's professional drivers are trained in DOT, EPA and OSHA regulations and have logged millions of safe-driving miles. They attend quarterly driver training updates.

Recently, Ross Transportation Services was certified under OSHA's Safety, Health and Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). (Click here to see a copy of the certification.)

Ross Incineration and Ross Transportation are two of only 14 companies in the State of Ohio that have received recognition under this very selective OSHA program.

Safety, Health and Environmental Policy

Our business success and our commitment to protection of human health and the environment are consistent and complimentary goals.
We will demonstrate leadership in protection of human health and the environment in our workplace, marketplace and community.
We will comply with all applicable safety, health and environmental regulations, and hold the broader goals of eliminating preventable injuries; preventing adverse environmental and health impacts; reducing wastes and emissions; and promoting resource conservation.
Management and all employees are collectively and individually responsible and accountable for compliance with safety, health and environmental regulations, policies and procedures.
We will communicate our safety, health and environmental achievements and challenges openly, honestly, clearly and professionally with employees, customers, our community and government agencies.
This Policy will guide all our decisions and actions that have potential safety, health or environmental impacts.

Ross Incineration Services Safety, Health & Environmental Standards

Ross Incineration Services, Inc.(RIS) is committed to maintaining an environmentally sound, safe, healthy workplace for the protection of our employees, our community and our business interests. We believe that most occupational injuries, illnesses and safety and environmental incidents are preventable, and set zero as our ultimate goal for each of these.

RIS firmly believes that all employees are individually and collectively responsible for safety, health and environmental compliance. We expect full cooperation and participation in aspects of safety, health and environmental programs for all employees.

To accomplish this broad objective, we will:

Train personnel in appropriate safe work practices, environmental program compliance, applicable regulatory and permit requirements, and RIS' established management practices. Reinforce this training through continuing education.
Indoctrinate and instill in all personnel a commitment to assume personal responsibility and accountability for safety, health and environmental protection and compliance. Encourage all personnel to expect similar performance from coworkers.
Strive to provide appropriate machinery and equipment and maintain it in safe working order.
Maintain programs which promote prompt reporting and correction of all potential and actual unsafe conditions or environmental impacts.
Periodically evaluate work processes and procedures in the context of safety, health and environmental impacts and make appropriate engineering and procedural changes.
Incorporate compliance with these standards as an element of job requirements and individual performance appraisals. Take appropriate action with personnel exhibiting behavior inconsistent with these standards.
Select contractors and vendors who demonstrate proper concern for safety, health and environmental protection.

Ross Incineration Environmental Assessment Program Underway

Ross Incineration Services, Inc. (RIS) is committed to ensuring that past and present waste management practices do not have an adverse impact on the community or environment. The company has invested millions of dollars in the facility to be certain that its operations meet or exceed EPA requirements for safe waste management operations.

RIS has a comprehensive environmental assessment and monitoring program in place. Additionally, as a condition of its RCRA Operating Permit granted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ross Incineration is participating in the Corrective Action program. Through this program, the company is enhancing its comprehensive monitoring efforts to provide further assurances that it has operated in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment.

The Corrective Action program is intended to make certain that past waste management practices do not have an adverse impact on human health and the environment. Ross Incineration has participated in the program since 1989 and has completed an investigation of its site to determine if there has been any release to the environment.

One component of RIS' environmental assessment program includes the evaluation of groundwater at more than 60 wells strategically placed throughout the facility. In addition, routine groundwater monitoring at the facility has provided thousands of individual pieces of groundwater data collected over more than 20 years. The company has tested groundwater, surface water, soil and sediment for more than 200 hazardous substances to characterize the Ross Incineration facility.

In addition, Ross Incineration is currently completing human health and ecological risk assessment studies. It's preliminary conclusion is that, to date, no risk to human health or the environment has occurred above health based target levels.

At present, Ross Incineration is preparing a final RCRA Facility Investigation Report which will be submitted to the Ohio EPA.

For more information on the Corrective Action program and Ross Incineration's participation, read the Corrective Action factsheets by clicking the links below:

Ross Environmental Services, Inc.
ISO 14001 Safety, Health and Environmental Policy

Our business success and our commitment to protection of human health and the environment are consistent and complimentary goals.
We will demonstrate leadership in protection of human health and the environment in our workplace, marketplace and community by adhering to the following guiding principles:

COMPLIANCE: We will comply with all applicable safety, health and environmental laws and regulations, as well as other pertinent requirements, and will implement programs and procedures to assure compliance.
PREVENTION: We will employ management systems and procedures to achieve the broader goals of eliminating preventable injuries; preventing adverse environmental and health impacts; reducing wastes and emissions; and promoting pollution prevention through resource conservation, recycling and reuse.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Management and all associates are collectively and individually responsible and accountable for compliance with safety, health and environmental regulations, policies and procedures.
COMMUNICATION: We will communicate our safety, health and environmental policy, achievements and challenges openly, honestly, clearly and professionally with associates, customers, our community and government agencies.
CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT: We will continuously seek opportunities to improve our adherence to these principals, and will periodically review and report progress to our stakeholders.